Heading to the Khaos Brigade's Hideout
Kaito materialized inside the Khaos Brigade's hideout.
SHUUUM!
The hideout was a dark and chaotic place, with stone walls and scattered objects that denoted a space hastily occupied. Inside were Thalia, Xenovia, and Kuroka. The girls appeared worried, although Xenovia seemed calmer. Kuroka, on the other hand, clearly displayed her nervousness. Thalia, besides being worried, showed an evident expression of irritation.
The reason for her irritation was obvious: Kaito had gone to face Zeus and hadn't taken her along. She always hated being left behind, especially in matters that affected her directly.
Thalia was the first to approach, her eyes fixed on Kaito, a mix of disapproval and expectation in her gaze.
"Did you manage to kill Zeus?"
"Many gods died today. Unfortunately, Zeus was not one of them," Kaito replied, his tone calm but carrying a touch of disappointment. He knew Thalia had a personal desire to see Zeus defeated and was annoyed for missing the chance.
Thalia said nothing further and stepped away, the tension in the room increasing with her cold attitude. Kaito sighed internally, aware of how difficult it was to deal with Thalia's expectations. He could feel her latent frustration and knew she was venting on him more for not achieving what she wanted than for his decision.
Breaking the tense atmosphere, Kuroka approached Kaito and, to his surprise, hugged him tightly.
The embrace surprised Kaito. Despite Kuroka being playful and extroverted, they had never gotten this close before. Kuroka usually kept her teasing lighthearted, but this gesture felt different, more laden with relief and genuine emotion.
"I'm so glad you're back safe, nya," she said, her voice almost a purr of satisfaction as she clung to him. "Where's Ophis?"
Kaito smiled, slightly disconcerted by the unexpected gesture of affection.
"Ophis kicked me out of Olympus. She wanted to enjoy the silence."
Kuroka let out a small laugh, still not letting go. "You're lucky; she could have killed you." Her words were heavy but true, and Kaito knew it.
Kuroka released Kaito and stepped back, still smiling as if her nervousness had been partially dispelled by the touch. The gesture, however, was noticed by the others, and he caught a brief glimpse of curiosity in Xenovia's eyes.
Xenovia, who was nearby, nodded to Kaito respectfully, saying nothing but showing her silent support. She was always more about action than words, and her gaze clearly conveyed her trust in him regardless of the battle's outcome.
Thalia looked at Kaito again, curiosity finally surpassing irritation. "Why did the other gods die, but Zeus escaped?"
Kaito sighed, realizing he needed to explain what had happened. "Zeus handed Olympus over to Ophis. Since it was what she wanted, she let him go."
Thalia smiled faintly, a hint of satisfaction appearing on her face.
Now she would have the opportunity to kill him with her own hands.
"You seem happy that he's alive. I thought you wanted him dead," Kaito remarked, looking at Thalia.
"I'm happy because now I can do it myself. But where is he?" Thalia replied, her gaze steady.
Zeus could be anywhere in the world. Under normal circumstances, it would be impossible to determine his whereabouts.
The truth was, Kaito had no idea.
"Try praying to him. He's a god, and you're his daughter. Maybe he'll give you his address," Kaito said with a hint of irony.
Thalia, Kuroka, and Xenovia immediately reacted, clearly disapproving of the suggestion.
"You're joking, right? I'd never do that. Praying to him would be like accepting that he still has power over me," Thalia said, her voice filled with anger.
Kuroka shook her head, disapproving of the idea.
"Nya, that's ridiculous, Kaito. Praying to him would only make him stronger. I don't want to give Zeus even a speck of power." Her tone was clearly irritated, and her ears and tail swayed in disapproval.
Xenovia crossed her arms, looking at Kaito with a serious expression.
"I was an exorcist, and although I'm now a devil, I still respect my old faith. I won't pray to a pagan god, let alone Zeus. That would be a betrayal of my principles."
Kaito noticed their reactions and let out a small smile.
"Relax, I was just joking."
It might not have been funny, but it was just Kaito's way of teasing. Or maybe he was serious, but no one would ever know for sure.
"Now stop looking at me like that and give me some alternatives," Kaito said.
"Maybe Hades is an alternative. He's the god of the dead; he must be in the underworld, and Zeus could be with him," Thalia suggested.
Kaito considered the possibility. There was a huge difference between the mythology found in books and the truth. Maybe Zeus and Hades could have a good relationship, and the fact was that Kaito hadn't killed Hades.
Before they could move forward with the idea, Kuroka interrupted their reasoning.
"Forget it, nya. It's impossible for Hades to help Zeus or for Zeus to seek help from Hades."
Thalia and Kaito exchanged glances upon hearing Kuroka's words.
"How do you know that?" Thalia asked, frowning.
Kuroka just smiled, her gaze mischievous. "Nya, I have my sources. Don't worry about it."
Kaito sighed, knowing that despite the limitations, they would need a new plan. Finding Zeus wouldn't be easy, but he was confident that, in time, they would track down the king of gods and complete their mission. In the meantime, the tension between them remained, each with their own motivations and desires for revenge.
Kaito decided to step away from the girls to seek an alternative.
"Excuse me, I need to make a call that might solve our problems," he said, leaving the hideout and heading to the surrounding forest.
Extending his hand, he conjured a communication spell. A hologram appeared, and on the other side was Sirzechs Lucifer. Sirzechs, Rias's brother, seemed to have been expecting the call.
"Finally, you called me. You're looking for Zeus's location, aren't you?" Sirzechs said with a slight smile.
Kaito was surprised by how quickly news traveled, but that was good for him as it facilitated the conversation.
"You're right, Sirzechs. And judging by your tone, you know where he is," Kaito replied, straight to the point.
Sirzechs nodded, his expression becoming more serious.
"Zeus is hiding with an old lover. I'll send you the coordinates. But be careful, Kaito. He's vulnerable, but he's still Zeus. Never underestimate the power of a god, even in hiding."
Kaito nodded, determined. He was willing to do whatever it took to complete his mission.
"Thanks, Sirzechs. I'll end this once and for all."
Vrrr, vrrr
Kaito pulled his phone out of his pocket, glancing at the vibrating screen. It was a message from Romania, specifically Transylvania. The name referred to Adelaide Van Helsing.
Kaito frowned as he read the message, clearly annoyed. He didn't want to get involved with vampires or hunters, especially at a time like this. He sighed, putting the phone back in his pocket.
"Vampires?" Kaito muttered, his expression growing more serious.
"Vampires, werewolves, hunters... I recommend not doing this alone, but you should also avoid involving Rias in your matters," Sirzechs said, his voice carrying a tone of warning.
Kaito didn't need to hear the warning about Rias, as he had no intention of involving her anyway. He nodded silently, aware that Sirzechs was merely trying to protect her.
Sirzechs ended the magical communication, the hologram disappearing. He had passed on the address; now it was up to Kaito.
Kaito returned to the hideout. Thalia, Kuroka, and Xenovia were there, all with expectant looks, waiting for news.
Thalia maintained a serious expression, but there was a glimmer of determination in her eyes. She wanted revenge against Zeus, and now she knew Kaito had a lead.
Kuroka seemed calmer, but her eyes still showed curiosity and concern. Xenovia, always the most composed, simply waited patiently, trusting Kaito.
"We have Zeus's location," Kaito said, breaking the silence. "Let's get ready."